You’ve done the breathing exercises, the journaling, the grounding techniques. You know how to calm your body in the moment. But lately, it feels like those tools aren’t enough. You’re still anxious. Still emotionally flat. Still stuck in patterns you thought you’d outgrown.

You've been wondering whether therapy might be right for you. Maybe things feel a little harder than usual, or you've been carrying the same worries for longer than you'd like. The question isn't always easy to answer: When is the right time to reach out for help?

At Hello Mental Health in Cincinnati, we hear this question often, and we want to offer some clarity. Here are some signs that therapy might be a valuable next step for you.

December is a perfect storm for emotional burnout.

Research shows that 89% of U.S. adults experience elevated stress during the holiday season, and 38% say it's the most stressful time of the year. For people already carrying anxiety, depression, ADHD, perfectionism, or trauma histories—the exact folks we work with at Hello Mental Health in Cincinnati—the holiday season doesn’t just add stress. It turns up the volume on everything you’ve been managing all year.

When you're ready to seek mental health support, one of the first challenges you'll face isn't just finding the right professional—it's understanding what all those different titles actually mean. Should you see a psychologist? A therapist? A counselor? And what's the real difference anyway?

You know that feeling when you walk into a crowded room and — even though nothing “bad” is happening — you leave feeling drained, overwhelmed, or emotionally rattled? Or when a commercial or a certain song brings you to tears for no clear reason? Maybe you’ve been called “too sensitive,” “dramatic,” or “intense.” What I want you to know, from one sensitive soul to another: there’s a reason for that. And it’s not a flaw.

Starting therapy can feel like standing at the edge of something important—exciting and uncertain at the same time. Whether you're considering therapy for the first time or looking to return after a break, it's normal to have questions. At Hello Mental Health, we believe that good information leads to confident decisions, so we've gathered answers to the questions we hear most often.

If you’re curious about how clinical hypnosis might support your mental health—without the stage tricks or mystery—here’s what you need to know…

Feeling off as the seasons change? You’re not imagining it. Here’s what’s happening in your brain — and how therapy at Hello Mental Health can help.

This summer, I was diagnosed with ADHD.
Which still feels wild to say out loud.

It’s new. Raw. Tender.

I don’t have a neat “and here’s what I learned” story yet. No five-step strategy list. No “and now everything’s great.”

Searching for doctoral-level psychologists in Cincinnati or Ohio who accept Custom Design Benefits – TrueCost insurance? Discover why Hello Mental Health is a trusted, evidence-based therapy practice for anxiety, depression, trauma recovery, and more.

Looking for the best therapist in Cincinnati? Learn how to choose the right therapist based on credentials, experience, and comfort — plus why Hello Mental Health is one of Cincinnati’s top-rated therapy practices.

If you missed the live session or want a refresher, the recording of Invisible Chains: Helping Clients Break Free from Narcissistic Abuse is now available.

Escaping a relationship with narcissistic abuse is not just about leaving—it’s about untangling yourself from a web that was carefully spun to keep you ensnared. As a psychologist, I’ve seen clients struggle with this process in ways that go far beyond what most traditional therapy approaches prepare them for. While therapy can be a powerful tool for healing, it’s not always a perfect fit in its conventional form. The complexity of narcissistic abuse often demands a different, more nuanced approach—one that recognizes the insidious nature of the trauma and the profound impact it has on self-perception, emotional regulation, and the ability to trust oneself.

A question that I get routinely asked is, “how do I know I’m getting better?” I love this question because it highlights an important truth: change is often gradual and subtle. It can be hard to see or appreciate it when we don’t have a sense of what to be looking for.

The holiday season. You know the drill: family gatherings, office parties, and a to-do list that never seems to end. This time of year can be intense, and despite what the commercials would have you believe, not all of us are reveling in endless cups of hot cocoa with beaming smiles.

Ah yoga. You see the Lululemon ads, your doctor tells you it’s “healthy,” your best friend swears by it. You are willing to concede that it could be good for you, but you are not ready to take the step onto your mat. Perhaps the idea of wearing yoga pants and doing “downward dog” in a room full of strangers sounds like the stuff of nightmares. We are here to shed some light on what yoga is, what it is not, and why your doctor keeps telling you to try it.

If you found your way here, I want you to know that trauma is awful, but things can absolutely get better. Trauma is horrific, unfair and physically threatening or sexually violating to a person.

In the midst of romance and it starts getting harder, it is so easy to assume we can find satisfaction without adding a third person to the mix. For some, the idea of reaching out to a therapist doesn’t arise until someone seeks a “last ditch effort” to save a relationship. After all, can’t everyone else figure it out on their own? Maybe. But there is so much truth to the adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When we seek couples therapy in the early stages of conflict, we are more likely to see a higher return on our investments of money, time, and energy.

As the Zen proverb goes, “You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day, unless you’re too busy; then you should sit for an hour.” Well, that is a solid aspiration, but, we may not all get there in quite that way. And that’s okay. Here are a few tips and tricks that may help you start to discover your breath…